Explosive shell for rifled guns.



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No. 772,346.v PATENTED 001118, 1904. A; H. BMERY. EXPLOSIVE SHELL FOR.RIFLED GUNS. APILIUATIoN FILED JULY 12.1901. nmmwnn un. 1, 1904. NoMovin.. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented October 18, 1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT H. EMERY, OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT.

EXPLSIVE SHELL FOR RIFLED GUNS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 772,346, dated October18, 1904.

Application filed July 12, 1901. Renewed March 12, 1904. Serial N6.197,892. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT H. EMERY, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Stamford, in the county of Fairfield, in the State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inExplosive Shells for Riied Guns, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention is illustrated in the drawings by five figures, in which-Figure 1 shows a side elevation, partly in` section, of a projectilesuitable for large guns. Fig. 2 isa section of the samel on line A A,Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal elevation, partly in section, of aslightly-modified form of this projectile. Figs. 4 and 5 are sections ofthe same on lines B B and C C, Fig. l3.

In making shells for high explosives it has generally been the custom tomake them long, with elongated pointed fronts especially adapted to passeasily through the air, and in many cases of forms and constructionsintended to be suitable for penetration of highly-resisting targets.This is very objectionable for all cases except those in which theconstruction and use of the projectile is such that itmay pass throughthe target before exploding, which has rarely been attained when strongthick targets were used. The explosive in these shells has sometimesbeen divided into several parts-by transverse partitions. If theprojectile is to do its business upon the target by exploding whenimpact occurs,it should not be made with an elongated pointed front asheretofore, as such construction holds` a very large portion of all theexplosive in the shell much farther from the target when the point ofthe projectile reaches it than is necessary or desirable. -As a matterof fact, when the projectile touches the target and explodes theexplosive should all be as near to the target as is practicable to haveit, for which reason I make the front of the projectile nearly or quiteiat and put a very large chamber for 4explosive in the front end. Thewalls of the chamber must have suflicient strength to withstand thehighest strain brought upon them in projecting the shell from the gunand for this reason should grow thicker as weproceed from the front tothe rear, where there must be a thick base suflciently strong towithstand the shock of firing the projectile from the gun. this form Ibring the whole mass of explosive as near to the very front end of theprojectile as is practicable with the dimensions of the charge to befired and so dispose it as to be as near to the targetas possible attime of exploding. The very large charge of explosive exploding closelyin contact with the plate of the target receives a very high order ofexplosion, owing to the weight and resistance of the plate against whichit is tired, and this explosion is greatly increased by the strong wallsand their contained charges of explosive closely following the frontcharge, and the whole explosion of the entire charge of the shell isgreatly increased in intensity by the weight and position of the thickbase of the projectile which is near to and rapidly approaching thetarget at the time of explosion, when the front of the projectiletouches it.

The effect on the target due to this baseiis By making the projectilein4 greatly changed by its being Aso near from Y what it would be inanother projectile of equal diameterV containing equal quantity ofexplosive had the projectile a long point, as heretofore constructed. Soeach of the charges into which the whole charge is divided will havemuch greater effect in my projectile than in those heretofore used,because when detonated it is much closer to the target to be destroyedand the intensity of the explosion of each division of the charge tendsin much greater degree to increase the explosive effect of each otherdivision of the charge.

In Fig. l, l represents the base and body of the shell, the walls ofwhich are drawn of uniform thickness for each chamber, but withsuccessively thinner walls aswe pass from the base to the front, theoffset at each reduction in thickness forming a ledge on which restdiaphragms 2 to support the different charges into which the explosivecharge should be divided, if at all sensitive, sufficiently toprevent-the explosion of any part of the charge from igniting by thepressure due to' its own weight and the impact in tiring. In Fig. 3,

2 also represents the transverse diaphragms, as in Fig. 1.

The shells shown in Figs. 1 and 3 are each divided transversely intothree parts by the diaphragms 2. The n um ber ofthe diaphragms 2 shouldbe increased, if necessary, to the extent above indicated, but with theprecautionary provisions which I take, as hereinafter explained. Two orthree of these transverse diaphragms will usually be sulicient, unlessit -be in cases Ywhere Sthe projectile is unduly long or thepowder-pressures extremely high.

In Fig. 3 a portion l of the body of the` except that I have here addedthe ledges nec-- e'ssary to support the transverse diaphragms. The baseand main walls of the projectile in 'Fig'. 3 are constructed in the sameWay. The

base and walls of this projectile, as shown in either figure, could becast; but when made by forging and drawing, as explained, they are muchstronger and of more uniform density thanif cast only, and, besides,when forged and drawn of steel I oil-temper them, which still furtherstrengthens them, and this greater strength lof the walls aids ininsuring the detolxlialtlion of the charge to be contained in the s e Toavoid firing the explosive in the act of 'firing the shell, it isessential that the walls should be smooth, which is insured by makingthe projectile in the Amethod described, and even if they are smooth thefriction between the explosive and shell, due to therapidly-rotatingshell and the more slowly rotating explosive containedtherein, has often caused explosion at the muzzle of the gun or afterthe projectile has gone several hundred feet. This frictional heat isentirely avoided by dividing the charge longitudinally into a suitablenumber of sections by diaphragms 4. These diaphragms are made in onewith the shell, as shown in the front chamber in Figs. 3 and 5, or theyare made separate and placed in the shell, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3,and 4, where they are all so placed except those referred to in thefront chamber in Fig. 3. These diaphragms are best made of thin rolledsheet-steel, cut to the proper size and tempered and placed in groovesto secure them in place and to cause them to rotate with the shell whenfired. These diaphragms not only oblige the charge to rotate with theshell, but they enable us by their support to use comparatively thintransverse diaphragms 2. The

thickness required for the longitudinal diaphragms 4 will vary withtheir number and positions in the shell. Those in the lower chambershould be thicker than those in the chambers above, as the lowerdiaphragms 4 must support not only in firing the pressure from theexplosive in the chamber above it, but must help support the pressurefrom all the explosive and longitudinal diaphragm:v above it. Thethickness of these longitudinal diaphragms may properly decrease as wevgo toward the front of the projectile. Of course the thinner these are,while retaining the required strength for the position in which they aretobe placed, the better they will be, as they give less weight to theprojectile and leave more room for the explosive.

Between the transverse diaphragms 2 are central columns 5, which helpsupport the transverse diaphragms 2, and When grooved, as shown, helptix in place the longitudinal diaphragms 4. They are best made of drawntubing, when, owing to the 'holes through the diaphragms 2, they form acontinuous chamber leading from thefront to the rear oi` the projectile,readily divisible, if desired, in which detonating charges may be placedto explode simultaneously all the explosive contained in the Shell.These charges are left out in the figures shown. The shell may beexploded directly by impact if charged with an explosive which is sureto fire by the concussion produced in hitting the target; otherwise thecentral column should be charged with a detonating explosive to ignitethe main charge when the projectile hits the target.

The main charge is here shown divided into smaller charges bothtransversely and longitudinally, as explained. Each of these smallcharges may be placed directly in the chamber it is to occupy at time offiring at any time after making the projectile; but I prefer in mostcases to inclose each divisional charge of the explosive in small thinpackingchambers which closely fit the walls of the division in which itis to be placed. These little packing-chambers may well be made of thinsheet metal, lined with parailin or other suitable material, and afterclosely filling with the explosive they should be suitably sealed, readyto be placed in the shell at any desired time. By using this method theshell may be charged or uncharged at any time.

In studying this projectile, constructed as described, it will readilybe seen that for a projectile of any given diameter, length, and weighta very much larger charge of explosive can be carried than when theprojectile has a long heavy front, as heretofore used, and not only isthe explosive brought nearer to the target than in the other shells, butthe walls may be thinner and still have suiiicient strength, owing tothe small quantity of metal in the front of the projectile instead ofthe large quantity used in the points heretofore IOC lIO

made, while conversely I have a large quantity of explosive broughtclose to the target before explosion, where it becomes so veryetfective, as explained. The front 3 of these projectiles is made verythin; but in `cases where it is to strike the water before reaching itstarget this front should be thick enough to withstand the impact of thewater and allow the shell to ricochet and go on to the target beforeexploding. The proportions shown in the drawings are probably sufficientfor this.

It will be noticed that the projectile when' made as described ofsuitable material is not only capable of withstanding large strains intiring from the gun, but contains a very large volume of explosive for aprojectile of such weight and length, and so is for this and the otherreasons mentioned vastly more effective proportional to its caliber andweight than are` any heretofore made.

In using this projectile it is especially desirable that no gases passby it in firing from the gun and that itis perfectly riied, so as tokeep point on in firing, that its front end may strike the target first,as desired. For this purpose I use a packing-ring 6 of suitablematerial, usually bronze, securely screwed to the base of theprojectile, with a forwardlyprojecting lip 6 at its base. This lipprojects into a recess in the base, and after the packingy ring has beenscrewed tightly to place heavy hydraulic pressure shortens and expandsthe lip 6, causing it to t tightly the groove in which it is contained.This prevents gases from passing under this ring to blow it off at themuzzle of the gun. The gases not passing under the ringtheir highpressure at time of firing press the ring tightly against the projectileand cause this pressure to help the screw-threads of the ring,securingit suHi-j ciently to cause the projectile to rotate with it, accordingto the twist of the `gu'n-riiling.

To prevent erosion of the gun and possible premature explosion oftheshell from the action of the gases passing around it at time of firing,a thin lip 6" is provided at the base of the riiiing-ring with adiameter somewhat larger than the bore at the bottom of the grooves ofthe uneroded gun, this lip entirely shutting off the passage of thegases. In front of this lip the riling-ring has a series of lands orprojections 6c, which project into and till and fit the grooves of thegun at time of fir' ing, causing the projectile to rotate with theriiing of the gun. The form of this projectile makes it particularlydesirable that this action should be certain.

In inserting this projectile'into the gun it is desirable that the lands6c of -the packingring should enter the grooves of the gun at time ofloading, and to make this entrance easy the fronts of these lands aremade pointed,

as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

Having thus described my inventlon, what I claim as new therein, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A shell constructed with one lor more` chambers for high explosive,with a liattened columns sufficiently short to avoid explosion of theshell in the gun in firing, and having radial partitions to divide thecharge longitudinally and force it to revolve with the shell; saidradial partitions being separable from the shell and recessed into thewall of the shell. t

4.- An explosive shell constructed with a central column and separableradial partitions recessed into the central column and into the wall ofthe shell dividing the charge of explosive longitudinally, and forcingit to rotate with the shell in firing.lv

5. An explosive shell constructed with transverse diaphragms dividingtheexplosive charge into columns sufficiently short to prevent explosionin the shell in firing, and with separable radial partitions to dividethe charge longitudinally and force it to rotate with the shell,recessed into the transverse diaphragms and into the wall of-the shell.

6. An explosive shell constructed with transverse ydiaphragms dividingthe charge into columns sufficiently short to prevent explosion of theshell in the gun in firing, with a central column and separable radialpartitions recessed into the central column and into the wall of theshell.

7. An explosive shell constructed with a central tubular column tocontain an igniting charge, and with separable radial partitionsrecessed into said central tubular column and into the inner wall of theshell, and dividing the explosive charge longitudinally.

8. An explosive shell constructed with transverse diaphragms dividingthe explosive charge into short sections; central columns between thetransverse diaphragms; and with separable radial partitions recessedinto the inner wall of the shell dividing the explosive longitudinally,and forcing the partitions to rotate with the shell in firing.

The foregoing specification signed this 3d day of July, 1901.

ALBERT H. EMERY. In presence of- NATH. R. HART, JOHN E. KEELER.

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